The invention relates to a method for controlling a machine tool (1) comprising a motor (3) for driving the machine tool (1); a control device (4); a transmission device (5) having at least one first gear and one second gear; a tool (7), for example, a drill bit; a first sensor (10) for detecting the rotational speed of at least one component of the transmission device (5); and a second sensor (20) for detecting the rotational speed of the motor (3). The method comprises the method steps: detecting a first rotational speed of the transmission device (5) in a first gear; detecting a first rotational speed of the motor (3) in a first gear; detecting the engagement of a first gear based on a ratio of the rotational speed of the transmission device and the rotational speed of the motor according to the lookup table; setting the idle state; detecting the set idle state based on a ratio of the rotational speed of the transmission device and the rotational speed of the motor according to the lookup table; adjusting the rotational speed of the motor to a second gear based on a ratio of the rotational speed of the transmission device and the rotational speed of the motor according to the lookup table; and engaging a second gear. The invention further relates to a machine tool (1) for applying the method.